Newcastle United face Chelsea for the second time in four days as they look to progress into the quarter finals of the Carabao Cup.
Chelsea emerged as 2-1 winners at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday but the Magpies are targeting quick revenge on home turf.
United could welcome back Anthony Gordon into the matchday squad after his missed the last meeting with a groin complaint. The 23-year-old went for a scan on Monday and results confirmed the injury is nothing serious.
“He has been for a scan and we're hopeful the injury isn’t serious, we didn’t think it was when we initially did it,” Howe said in his pre-match press conference. Let’s see how he is today.
“It was in training on, I think, Friday but it didn’t become necessarily obvious to us until Saturday. Nothing serious, it’s one of those things you can sometimes get from time to time that players can play with or not play with and he just felt it was too much on Sunday.
“Yeah there is [a chance he could play this week] but of course we have to make the right decision. We have Arsenal coming up very quickly so it’s just about making sure we don’t do any further damage.”
Gordon pending, it’s very much as you were for Newcastle, who hoping to reignite their campaign following a run of five Premier League games without a win.
Here’s the Newcastle United starting XI Howe is predicted to name:
9. RW: Jacob Murphy
Murphy dropped to the bench against Chelsea but his replacement Miguel Almiron struggled to make an impact. | Getty Images
10. LW: Joelinton
Joelinton is no stranger to playing on the left side of attack having starred in that position during the season Newcastle finished 4th. | Getty Images
11. ST: Alexander Isak
It was a bizarre afternoon for Isak last time out. He was at the heart of everything, but that wasn’t always a good thing! Form is temporary, class is permanent… | AFP via Getty Images